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A Study of Heavy Precipitation Events in Taiwan During 10-13 August, 1994Several heavy precipitation episodes occurred over Taiwan from August 10 to 13, 1994. Precipitation patterns and characteristics are quite different between the precipitation events that occurred from August 10 and I I and from August 12 and 13. In Part I (Chen et al. 2001), the environmental situation and precipitation characteristics are analyzed using the EC/TOGA data, ground-based radar data, surface rainfall patterns, surface wind data, and upper air soundings. In this study (Part II), the Penn State/NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to study the precipitation characteristics of these heavy precipitation events. Various physical processes (schemes) developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (i.e., cloud microphysics scheme, radiative transfer model, and land-soil-vegetation surface model) have recently implemented into the MM5. These physical packages are described in the paper, Two way interactive nested grids are used with horizontal resolutions of 45, 15 and 5 km. The model results indicated that Cloud physics, land surface and radiation processes generally do not change the location (horizontal distribution) of heavy precipitation. The Goddard 3-class ice scheme produced more rainfall than the 2-class scheme. The Goddard multi-broad-band radiative transfer model reduced precipitation compared to a one-broad band (emissivity) radiation model. The Goddard land-soil-vegetation surface model also reduce the rainfall compared to a simple surface model in which the surface temperature is computed from a Surface energy budget following the "force-re store" method. However, model runs including all Goddard physical processes enhanced precipitation significantly for both cases. The results from these runs are in better agreement with observations. Despite improved simulations using different physical schemes, there are still some deficiencies in the model simulations. Some potential problems are discussed. Sensitivity tests (removing either terrain or radiative processes) are performed to identify the physical processes that determine the precipitation patterns and characteristics for heavy rainfall events. These sensitivity tests indicated that terrain can play a major role in determining the exact location for both precipitation events. The terrain can also play a major role in determining the intensity of precipitation for both events. However, it has a large impact on one event but a smaller one on the other. The radiative processes are also important for determining, the precipitation patterns for one case but. not the other. The radiative processes can also effect the total rainfall for both cases to different extents.
Document ID
20010037609
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Tao, Wei Kuo (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Chen, C.-S. (National Central Univ. Chung-Li, Taiwan, Province of China)
Jia, Y. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Baker, D. (Austin Coll. Sherman, TX United States)
Lang, S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Wetzel, P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Lau, W. K.-M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
February 21, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSC89-2111-M-008-009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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